The “Aran” Sweater better known as the “Fisherman” sweater is a sartorial staple. Everyone should have at least one, a basic like your favorite jeans.

We tend to favor vintage styles and always have them stocked in the shop, crew necks, cardigans and shawl collars. The fisherman sweater, rich in history and makes for a great story.

The Aran sweater was born as something that both united and differentiated the inhabitants of the Aran Islands.

The majority of the island’s inhabitants were either farmers or fisherman whose lives were deeply intertwined. It was in this environment that Aran sweaters, which are also often times known as cable knit sweaters and Aran Isle sweaters, have always been symbols of the lives of their wearers as they are able to effectively tell of the lives and families of those who don them. There are many combination’s of stitches and they each have their own meaning, and though they may look the same, each sweater tells its own story and is specifically unique.

A lot of information can be revealed to anyone who knows how to interpret the patterns. On the Aran Islands these patterns were guarded vigorously with pride, as if they were patented. Oftentimes the sweaters would assist in telling of any dead fishermen that washed up onshore after accident at sea.

The intricate and unique stitches that go into an Aran sweater make them extremely popular and valuable. A given sweater will have approximately 100,000 stitches, and can take months to complete, But the careful care and amount of time it takes to make an Aran sweater does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Each stitch represents something unique and special.

The attributes of the Aran sweater made it a very practical and useful article of clothing to have on the Aran Islands. The sweaters are made of natural wool that is breathable which helps keep the body at an even temperature. The sweater itself is water repellent which protects its wearer from rain and ocean water. Also, an Aran Sweater can typically absorb 30% of it’s weight in water before it begins to feel wet. The most important attribute though, especially on the Aran Islands, was the fact that the wool would keep its wearer warm during cold nights and days out at sea. The wool that the sweater is made with is great for insulation, which prevents the wearer from becoming too hot or too cold.

Overall, the significance of the Aran sweater and its history can’t be denied. It’s an extremely valuable article of clothing because of it’s history, tradition, comfort, warmth and flexibility. Owning an Aran sweater will add not just any sweater to your collection, but a sweater that is rich in history and tradition.

all images via pinterest - History of Aran story Via Quills Woolen Market